What could you have done diff. for a better last 5 years?

People seem to bring up what has been going on for the last 5 years constantly as a societal problem. In commenting on this in another thread, and after giving up on many debates around here because of how little influence we have on actual public policy, as the public...I wonder.

Since you do have massive influence over your own life and your family:

1. What could you have done differently over the last 5-10 years to not suffer as much based on our new economy?

2. What are you doing different to not end up as one of those that just looses their job due to some policy or industry and is there just asking for a hand out or blaming someone else because they did not design society properly for you to always win?

I know not all of you have suffered and personally I have pointed out how I have never seen so much opportunity for NON-job seekers in my adult life, but many know that society is not doing so well economically right now on average and many are really only a random event away from being on the other side of the fence, especially those without diverse resources (like one primary source of income in one industry or company).

How will you not get caught up and teach your kids how to not get caught up in the next cycle (if we get another cycle in our working lives)?

Or will you just wait, hope, pray and vote or some set of policies that will make it all bettou?

Personally I have lowered my mortgage rate and length. Tried to decrease spending and the spending I did was with cash. I wish I had trusted in the stock market more after the crash but I am mainly still staying away.

The last five years were good for us. We paid off our mortgage some time ago, we have solid income streams from pensions, jobs and investments. We learned long ago to identify and avoid bubbles. Basically, f someone on TV or the radio is telling you to do one thing with your money, do the opposite!

Actually, I rethought my whole post and I'm taking up a new approach. Damn the recession....I'm spending my way to prosperity from here on out. :rofllol

It's what the President and half of Congress wants me to do. All I have to do is drink the koolaid and get with the program.

Spending your way out of debt. Makes sense to me...and it's a hell of a lot more fun than pinching pennies and austerity...don't you think?

We have/had kids n college, but we started saving for their college while I was still pregnant. Their student loans were minimal. Sure, we were lucky; but we also planned ahead and delayed gratification.

Student loans.....what ? I hear the taxpayers are on the hook for about 1 TRILLION $$. Personally I did not have this option to go into debt to pay for university studies....so for me no loans (I worked, went to school and completed my degree in 36 months- engineering- and I am no genius at all). My children did not have these sanctioned loan shark devices. IF you do not take them there is no problem.

NOW....the paradox.....colleges because the taxpayers underwrite the debt have less incentive to keep costs in line (kill soft programs, terminate fluff courses, enconomize staff and cut other expenses). The culture slathers the sheep with the desire to get a college education when many applicants are not prepared.....when many just could not cut academics circa 1960.....so the sheep pay for remedial courses (five years to get a four year degree traditionally). The degrees in many instances are worthless and the graduates have marginal skill sets.....and debt. The fault is with the system and not the inept students. Promising a college education to all is a liberal wet dream and a failed effort (not to pick on Obama but he garnered votes with this silliness 2008/2016). Many liberal arts graduates could have chosen trade schools which turn out skills that are needed in a modern society 21st century.

Actually the blame lies at the feet of the parents of these missled kids.....they are no dumber than folks 40 years ago but egalitarian silliness embraced by boomers torpeoed them at birth.

Because the boomers as a group and their offspring embrace the nanny state I feel sure they will whine and politic to get the debts forgiven.....just like wall street and GM(worked there as I recall). Well managed responsible Americans will pay again......getting to be rather old.

I know of no one who has promised a college education to all, what is a liberal wet dream, as you so eloquently put it, is having a college education avaliable to all who desire /qualify for one. That is a very different goal. I agree that trade schools, and associate degrees in marketable skills are under utilized. But please don't distort what had been offered as a goal by Democrats just to bolster your own argument.

The goal(chicken in pot) is to promise college for all without jobs after a fluff education because the degrees are not marketable and put the kids in debt......that is the result......good intentions again led to dysfunctional programs paid for with tax dollars. OBAMA used this often to pander to parents and kids.....well recorded. I recall both parties play this shameful game.......but the American public are being played....

1. With the benefit of hindsight, we should have purchased much more gold during the last 5-10 years.
2. I should have placed more confidence in the abilities of my children and retired 3 years earlier
3. We should have adhered more strictly to our "Buy American" policy
4. I should have learned to fly much earlier